The Greenovate Awards, sponsored in 2018 by Growthpoint Properties, the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), RMS Remote Metering Services and Royal HaskoningDHV, recognizes student green building projects that have the potential to create more sustainable, cities, towns and neighbourhoods. The intention is to expose students to key focus areas around sustainability in the sector; and introduce industry to new talent.

“This contest is a great platform for students to present their research to a jury of experts and get their names out there in the industry,” says Marloes, who was one of the judges in the Property category.

It was a great experience to be part of the judging team and to see the students present such innovative ideas. Topics ranged from ‘How Facilities Managers deal with Post Occupancy Data’ to ‘Incorporating Cow Dung in Modern Acoustics’. All students put in 100% effort and presented with great enthusiasm. It always excites me that students are passionate about the green building industry, and I hope these students will take this passion forward into their careers.

For the first time last year, the Awards expanded to include an Engineering stream, and Chilufya mentored one of the engineering students who won second price in this stream – North West University’s (NWU) Eben Schutte, with the submission ‘Investigating the Suitability of Electromagnetic Water Flow Meters in a Residential Context’.

Of particular interest to the Solid Green team was the entry titled ‘User Satisfaction of Performance of a Green Star SA Rated Literary Museum in South Africa’, which investigated the National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown – for which Solid Green successfully handled the 5-Star Green Star PEB (Public & Education Building) Design and As-Built certifications – with positive results.

The Greenovate Awards, launched in 2015, encourages students to learn about green building and sustainability early in their careers so that, as tomorrow’s leaders, they will enter the market as advocates for the green building movement. As Dorah Modise, CEO of the GBCSA, said:

Greenovate has, over the years, provided a platform for students to deal with real-life green building research projects and solutions. The amazing energy these students display is inspiring and encourages us all to do more. The green building movement is in desperate need of vibrant young minds to take us to greater heights, and this is where it all begins.

Eight universities competed in 2018, and the winners were announced at a gala dinner in Sandton Central.

Greenovate Property Awards 2018:

Winners: Michael Inskip, Samantha Johnson and Morgan Knowles of the University of Cape Town (UCT) with the submission ‘Assessing the Relationship between Green Buildings and their Occupants’ Green Citizenship’.

Greenovate Property Award First Prize – Michael Inskip, Samantha Johnson, Morgan Knowles (UCT)

Second place: Rashid Bulbulia, Onneile Mfetane and Hitekani Mongwe from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) with the submission ‘Incorporating Cow Dung in Modern Acoustics’.

Greenovate Property Award Second Prize – Rashid Bulbulia, Onneile Mfetane, Hitekani Mongwe (Wits)

Third place: Kimera Ramruthan, Ziev Shani and Justin Watkins from WITS with the submission ‘Investigating the Possibility of making Rental Housing in the Gap Market more affordable through Green Building Technology’.

Greenovate Property Award Third Prize – Kimera Ramruthan, Ziev Shani, Justin Watkins (Wits)

Greenovate Engineering Awards 2018:

Winner: Chloe Bolton from UCT with the submission ‘Greywater Treatment and Reuse: Wetland Microbial Fuel Cell and Sand Filtration System for the On-Site Treatment and Recycling of Handwashing Greywater’.

Greenovate Engineering Award First Prize – Chloe Bolton (UCT)

Second place: Eben Schutte from North West University (NWU) with the submission ‘Investigating the Suitability of Electromagnetic Water Flow Meters in a Residential Context’.

Greenovate Engineering Award Second Prize – Eben Schutte (NWU)

Third place: Marchant van den Heever and Frederick Albrecht Bester from Stellenbosch University (SUN) with the submission ‘3D Printed Concrete’.

Greenovate Engineering Award Third Prize – Marchant van den Heever and Frederick Bester (SUN)

The judging panel for the Greenovate Property Awards comprised:

• Dorah Modise, CEO of Green Building Council South Africa.
• Brian Wilkinson, Chairman of HouseME.
• Mitesh Bhawan, Head of Sustainability and Utilities, Growthpoint Properties.
• Marloes Reinink, Director at Solid Green Consulting.
• Martin Smith, Technical Director – Buildings, Aurecon.
• Nkuli Bogopa, CEO, Broll Property Group.

The judging panel for the Greenovate Engineering Awards comprised:

• Mauritz Kruger, Architect – Principal Specialist, Royal Haskoning DHV.
• Manfred Braune, Executive Director, GBCSA.
• Werner van Antwerpen, Corporate Finance, Growthpoint Properties.
• Mike Aldous, Associate – Green Building & Sustainability Services, Mott MacDonald.
• Yogesh Gooljar, Building Performance Engineer, PJ Carew Consulting.